Shenandoah County Building Inspections Department

Yesterday I was in Mauertown. I don't want to use the name of the business for reasons that will become apparent. The business is located on route 11 3.4 miles (5 minutes) from the Shenandoah County Building Inspections Department in Woodstock.

what I saw shocked me. This business has a large canopy in front (it looked to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 square feet) that has obviously failed. the failure is easily visible from route 11. the center has sagged several inches below the corners. it's propped up by a tall, unbraced metal pipe that appears to be about two inches in diameter. 

according to its website:

"The mission of the Building Department is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public by assuring that all buildings, structures and related equipment are constructed, installed and maintained in compliance with the standards contained within the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code."

Building Inspections Department - Building Inspection  

you've got to be kidding! it doesn't take a structural engineer to see that the Shenandoah County Building Inspections Department isn't "... protect(ing) the health, safety and welfare of the public by assuring that all buildings, structures and related equipment are constructed, installed and maintained in compliance with the standards contained within the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code." 

how many times over the years have personnel from the Shenandoah County Building Inspections Department driven by this large failed canopy--that is easily visible from route 11--and failed to investigate and followup? what good is a county building inspection department that ignores such obvious failures that threaten "the health, safety and welfare of the public"?

what about OSHA? I found the employees of this business to be competent, hardworking and friendly. what about them? They're clearly working in an unsafe situation. 

Shenandoah County Building Inspections Department and OSHA, do your jobs!!!

Where is the commonwealth of virginia? where is the federal government? where is the oversight? 

needless to say, this is not the only example of unsafe buildings in Shenandoah County. state and federal agencies charged with oversight of county building inspection departments should investigate inadequate building inspection in Shenandoah County and elsewhere in virginia. Public hearings should be held. The public has a right to know why unsafe buildings are not being investigated. 

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